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In this story the intelligence of a mentally challenged man is greatly enhanced by neuro-surgical treatments He forms an attachment with a mouse named Algernon who has already undergone this same treatment shortly before him Charlie is asked to keep a dairy and the novel consists of his daily reports As his intelligence grows Charlie becomes more aware of his status He soon develops into a super genius and finds he is just as isolated and lonely if not more so as he was before the treatment I felt that I could see the characters develop before my eyes especially the young Charlie who haunted the older Charlie while he was in his genius state Daniel Keys was able to make the people pepul come alive by painting their portraits with Charlie Gordons words I dont remember when I have read a book that incorporated so many interesting ideas and concepts into the actions of one person Also it seems to me that Charlie was right when he wrote Ironic that my intelligence doesnt help me solve a problem like this He was referring to a moral decision he had to make about one of his co-workers at the bakery Charlies intelligence put him into just as much of a disadvantage as did his retardation He never could fully relate to or understand Alice Hannigan though he did know that he loved her Unfortunately she loved the retarded yet compassionate sensitive and good-natured Charlie She just couldnt have the best of both worldshis intelligence and his simplistic yet beautiful outlook on life Charlie felt a strong connection to Algernon because he had undergone the exact same operation opershun as he had He felt sorry for him as he was constantly taunted with food as a reward for solving a puzzle Charlie felt that he too was being treated somewhat like guinea pig in a science lab and he wanted to take special care of

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